What Kids Think About Childhood Obesity
Nowadays, adults are getting worried with the rising numbers of overweight kids. Kids know it also. In a KidsPoll, 1,168 boys and girls were asked on the issue and it was found out that 52% of them agreed that there are too many overweight kids.
“This is important because knowing there is a problem is the first step to getting answers to solve the problem,” says Dr. Sandra Hassink. Dr. Hassink is a doctor in Delaware who has been helping kids resolve their weight problems. So, read on to find out more about the issue on childhood weight problems.
Obese Kids Prone to Bullying?
Bullies have been around for a very long time. Different kids, regardless of the difference, have always faced problems with bullies, and being overweight falls under the “different” category.
According to one study published in the “Pediatrics” journal, obese children in grades 3 through 6 are more likely to be bullied than children who aren’t overweight regardless of academics, social skills, race, or gender. The study showed that 45% of children in these grades were bullied with obese children being 63% more likely to be bullied.
How to Have a Healthy Lifestyle
Weight problems are one of the most common healthy problems that American people are dealing with; not only American people, but I guess people all over the world. But the fact remains that the people in the South, got some more extra pounds than the others. Smoking is another common health issue that we are facing and have to deal with. If we are one of them, how can we convince ourselves to have a healthy lifestyle?
As most– if not all, know that obesity related health issues cost our country billions annually. The link between obesity and different diseases and illnesses such as diabetes, heart problems and hypertension is very close, too close that most obese got one or all of these diseases. Smoking does the same. If you smoke, more or less within 10-15 years, you will be dealing with lung or throat cancer. Though we cannot avoid each and every disease, living a healthy lifestyle, maintaining a healthy body mass, and quitting smoking are ways to improve our immune system and live a healthier life.
A Price to Pay for Nationwide Obesity Crisis
Obesity has become an epidemic and it’s putting both health and wallet at risk – particularly for women. Doctors have been asserting that obese people incur higher medical bills but there is more to this than meets the eye. A recently released study proved that obese women have higher costs as compared to men.
Researchers from the George Washington University have looked into costs of being overweight. In this study, they have also included different factors such as employee sick days, lost productivity, and the need for extra gasoline as well. From the study, they’ve found that a woman’s annual cost of being obese is $4,879 while an obese man costs $2,646.
Winning the Battle against Childhood Obesity
Calories here and calories there, Americans have been used to all those calorie-containing menus. At the same time, we have also primed ourselves on laws concerning obesity. Policies geared towards alleviating obesity are growing slowly yet municipalities across the country are already proposing them.
Obesity is indeed keeping our healthcare system at risk. In response to this, many restrictions are already considered and undertaken. One of these is New York City’s restriction on the amount of salt that restaurants should put on their menus. If provisions like these will really be observed, there will be radical changes in the way foods are packaged and sold.
Obese Tweens and Just How Tough Their Battle Is
Rene Doubrava knew that boys were in serious trouble when her 10 year old weighed 176 pounds and his brother was not far behind, 105 pounds. She knew that big changes were required. The mum from Westlake, Ohio didn’t want her son to go back to school, being extremely obese. She was concerned that they should not be in the top list of overweight tween boys in the country. She has the right to be worried.According to the federal health experts, the percentage of boys aged 6-19years who consume soda and watch videos has increased from 9% a decade back to 15%. An example of such kids are Garrett and Nathaniel Uterhark, whose body mass index (BMI-used for weight measurement), has exceeded the 95th percentile.
Obesity in America Needs to be Addressed
In America, obesity has already become an epidemic that puts the health of numerous American children at risk. Many of these children won’t live longer due to obesity-related diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, circulatory disease, sleep apnea, arthritis and so many more. Family income as well as the government’s funds will be spent on obesity-related problems and even dreams will be shut out.
Just as childhood obesity begins at home, so does its prevention or reduction – it must start and be carried on within the four walls of the home. Even if the baby is still inside the mother’s womb, expectant mothers should diligently monitor their weight as this will likely affect the baby’s weight as well. In fact, recent studies have already implied that excessive, prenatal weight gain significantly raises the possibilities that the child in the mother’s womb will be struggling with obesity.
In the August issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a study focused on assessing the dietary patterns of early childhood. Based on the study, children, ages three to four who take in less greasy foods and more of the dark green and deep yellow vegetables were less likely to be overweight at age eight. All the more, this type of diet paved the way for the children’s healthier and stronger bones at age eight.
It’s Time for Healthy Snacks in Schools
Though Congress is still taking its time in finalizing, it looks like school lunches are becoming healthier. Last week the Senate using a voice vote gave the nod for a $4.5 Billion bill that will regulate new standards for all U.S public school lunches and vending machines. In July, a house committee passed a similar legislation. This situation is unique, where everyone is in agreement though there is opposition from the advocates for the hungry. They are not happy with the allocated money for future food stamping, being diverted for that purpose.
For many years Public health groups have advocated for stringent standards and now food and beverage companies have actually signed unto the cause. Michelle Obama’s pet project has been to reduce childhood obesity. Based on the figures from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), childhood obesity has risen in the past 30 years; from 6.5-19.6 % for ages 6 to 11 and from 5-18.1% for ages 12 to 19. These children will be exposed to possible heart disease, Type 2 Diabetes, stroke, cancer and arthritis at an early age.
Michelle Obama’s Mission to End Obesity Will Succeed in 5 Key Steps
In January, First Lady Michelle Obama, swore to end childhood obesity. She said, “We have everything we need right now—we have the information, we have the ideas, and we have the desire to start solving America’s childhood obesity problem. The only question is whether we have the will.”
The First Lady has all the recommendations, which includes everything from going to the gym, encouraging women to breastfeed, and others are indeed based on science. However, no one knows if these recommendations will work. Rudolph Leibel, a professor of pediatrics and medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons who helped discover leptin (the hormone that regulates hunger), said, “I’m sure the first lady has every sort of concern for this problem and the belief that it’s in our hands, but we’ve been studying this for years and still don’t have precise answers.”
FDA’s Initial Menu Labeling Steps: Consumers’ Path to Healthy Food Choices
Consumers can already make healthy food choices and at the same time watch what they’re eating because of The Affordable Care Act. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already opened a docket to the public. Through this, they are able to obtain comments, data and other information on how they can properly implement section 4205 of the recently passed health reform bill, The Affordable Care Act.
“By opening this docket to comment, FDA is taking a significant step in our long-fought efforts to provide consumers with nutritional information on the foods and beverages they purchase in chain restaurants and at vending machines,” said Harkin. “I have long said that it makes no sense that consumers can find nutritional information on almost anything they purchase at the grocery store, but are left clueless when it comes time to go out for a meal. The menu labeling provision of The Affordable Care Act will finally change this discrepancy. It is my hope that this comment period will offer useful information to make this provision as effective as possible to help consumers while at the same time not putting an undue burden on businesses”.